Cross Village, once a thriving fishing and lumber town, is located on the northwestern tip of Michigan's Lower Peninsula. As one of the oldest settlements in the State of Michigan, Cross Village's rich history has strong ties to the Native American Ottawa Indians.
Early historical accounts indicate that Father Jacques Marquette, the famous French Jesuit who endeared himself to the Native Indian population of Northern Michigan, planted a huge white cross on a bluff overlooking Lake Michigan before his death in 1675. Today, a replica of this cross stands at the edge of the bluff and is visible off the shore, far into Lake Michigan.
As late as 1787, as many as twenty tribes populated the region and met here around tribal council fires. To the Indians who populated the numerous historic missions in the area, Cross Village was known as the "Land of the Cross." To the French, this region was known as L'Arbre Croche; to the Ottawas, it was called "Wau-gaw-naw-ke-ze"; and to the White man at the time, it was simply known as "Land of the Crooked Tree."
Bishop Frederick Baraga is another individual with historical ties to Cross Village. Baraga left a comfortable, upper-class existence behind when he left Slovenia in 1830 to serve the Native population and isolated small communities of this region. He spoke and developed written Native languages and is credited for spreading the Gospel among the local Ottawas and Chippewas. In 1853, Baraga was elevated to Bishop, becoming the first Bishop in Upper Michigan.
In an 1855 Emmet County was reorganized and four new townships were created by the State. One of them was "La Croix," which was officially changed its name to Cross Village in 1875.
Legs Inn
One man, Stanley Smolak, created the fantasy-like atmosphere of Legs Inn. This Polish immigrant was born in Kamionka, Poland in the year 1887. At the time of Smolak's birth, Poland did not actually exist as an independent country as its neighboring empires partitioned it into Prussia (Germany), Russia and Austria at the end of 18th century. Despite this division, Poles were able to maintain their language, culture and traditions for over a hundred years. To avoid a possible draft into the occupying Austrian army in preparation for World War I, Smolak decided to pursue a new life in the United States. He decided to immigrate to the United States in 1912 following the path of hundreds of thousands immigrants before him.
After working in automobile factories in both Detroit and Chicago, Smolak met and subsequently married a fellow Pole, Eleanor, and sought out to settle in an area that reminded him of his native land. It was Smolak's admiration for nature and his love of diverse people that led him to Northern Michigan in 1921. He found an ideal setting in the town of Cross Village, where he quickly fell in love with the town and its people, many of them Ottawa and Chippewa Indians.
While spending a great deal of time in the forests and shores surrounding Lake Michigan and Wycamp Lake, Smolak observed the artistic beauty inherent in nature. The twisted and tormented forms of trees, roots and driftwood collected by Smolak from the surrounding area, along with the stones washed smooth and round by Lake Michigan's waters, aroused the artist in him - and from them he created this unusual building, fixtures and furniture. He once said: "Nature is the greatest sculptor - I am only helping to make the artistic objects more visible to the ordinary eye."
In the late 1920's, Stanley Smolak began building this extraordinary complex. He first constructed the curio shop with its Indian handiwork, souvenirs and living quarters. Then came the large tavern with its expansive balcony, and finally the dining room with its scenic bay windows overlooking Lake Michigan. Four great stone fireplaces throughout the building add more charm.
Smolak's active artistic period was interrupted 1953 by the sudden death of his only son, whose life was cut short in a tragic automobile accident. Joseph Smolak served in U.S. Navy during World War II and was only 30 years old when he died. At the time of his death, Joe had already begun to establish himself as a gifted artist who assisted his father in the creation of numerous sculptures and totem poles for the Inn.
Stanley Smolak died in November 1968, proceeded by the death of his wife, Eleanor, only 6 months earlier. Stanley's brother, John (Jan) Smolak, an accomplished musician who immigrated to the United States in 1963, ran the business until his death in 1972. John is still remembered for entertaining guests of Legs Inn with his beautiful violin music.
Alex Smolak (Stanley's nephew, John's oldest son), also a Polish immigrant who came to the U.S. in 1964, took over Legs Inn following his father's death in 1972 and ran it until 1987. Alex is responsible for the most recent building expansion, including an upgrade to the restaurant's kitchen and improvements to the lakeside cottages.
George Smolak (Stanley's nephew, John's youngest son) and his wife Kathy have operated Legs Inn since 1987. Their sons Mark and Christopher also assist with the operation of the Inn. The Smolaks are credited with obtaining State of Michigan historical status for Legs Inn in 1989, further upgrading the facilities, switching the emphasis of the Inn from bar to a popular casual/fine dining establishment, extensively landscaping the grounds and creating the lovely garden dining area with a panoramic of Lake Michigan and its spectacular sunsets.
As a visitor to Legs Inn, it takes numerous trips to appreciate the artistic value, incomparable labor and lifetime of dedication required to complete such a monumental project. Stanley Smolak's dream to leave a memorial to be admired by generations was fulfilled when he died in 1968.
The actual name, Legs Inn, is derived from the row of inverted stove legs that Stanley used to make the decorative railing on the roof of the building.
